MRI – Magnetic Resonance Insanity: Toxic Gadolinium

By Daniel Root

“My highest priority is daily pain and the twisting/squeezing tightness of craniofacial tendons andligaments. The skin on my scalp feels like an open, gaping wound at the slightest touch. Theneuropathy and not having a sense of where my arms and hands are, is just as painful.”

These horrific statements are from a respondent to a survey conducted in 2014 of patients that underwent anywhere from 1 to 8 Magnetic Resonance Imaging tests using a now-controversial intravenous Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agent (GBCA) to enhance images of abnormal tissue.

GBCAs are generally thought to be safe to use; however, retention of Gadolinium in fat, bone, and brain tissueis known to have serious consequences. Researchers have estimated that approximately 1% (15 mg) of the 1.5 grams of injected Gadolinium from each dose of contrast (0.1 mmol/kg body weight) may be released from the contrast agent and deposited in the bones of GBCA exposed patients including those with normal kidney function.

Gadolinium is neurotoxic. It inhibits mitochondrial function and induces oxidative stress. The Blood-Brain Barrier is easily disrupted, and this is why Gadolinium is deposited in brain tumors and brain lesions such as those seen in Multiple Sclerosis.

Symptoms of having Gadolinium poisoning include pain in the arms and legs, bone pain, tissue burning and brain fog.

The medical community and government agencies have recognized the toxicity of retained Gadolinium from GBCAs as the primary contributor to the development of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) in patients with compromised renal function.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis may resemble skin diseases, such as scleroderma and scleromyxedema, with thickening and darkening developing on large areas of the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis can also affect internal organs, such as the heart, kidneys and lungs, and it can cause a disabling shortening of muscles and tendons in the joints (joint contracture).

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis can begin days to months after exposure to Gadolinium-containing contrast, but progresses quickly. Some signs and symptoms of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis may include:

Swelling and tightening of the skin

Thickening and hardening of the skin, typically on the arms and legs and sometimes on the body, but almost never on the face or head

Skin that may feel “woody” and develop an orange-peel appearance and darkening (excess pigmentation)

Of the 17 patients cited in the study, “pain” was identified as a chronic symptom, along with burning, numbness, tingling, or prickling sensations (aka Paresthesia). Also identified by 10 patients were “deep bone pain” and “electric-like feelings.”

This study indicates that Gadolinium, a man-made heavy metal, can be retained in tissues for 79 months (6.5 years) or more. Patients who underwent multiple MRIs are at even greater risk of bioaccumulating Gadolinium, even with normal functioning kidneys. Unfortunately, the onset of their symptoms may take weeks to appear, so the MRI connection isn’t immediately apparent. In the study, 100% of the patients experienced symptoms within the first month following contrast MRI, and 59% reported their symptoms almost immediately.

There have been many class action lawsuits filed since 2016 to stop the insanity of Gadolinium use, as MRIs and MRAs (magnetic resonance angiography) can be performed without this toxic element. Tests are available to determine urine levels of Gadolinium; however, these can only reveal a small fraction of the accumulated burden.

The good news for MRI/Gadolinium victims is that sauna detoxification can reduce the body burden of this, and other xenobiotics (foreign substances to the body, like heavy metals, synthetic chemicals, and Persistent Organic Pollutants). Subjective Symptom Surveys by our patients, taken before and again 30 days post-treatment, indicate a 78-100% improvement in their symptoms.

If you or a loved one has suffered from Gadolinium toxicity, our Detoxination Protocol using sauna, exercise, and niacin (vitamin B3) can help prevent or reverse long-term health issues.